"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - San Bruno Hill Climb Race Report

I celebrated New Year’s Day by racing the San Bruno Hill Climb, an annual 3.5 mile sanctioned hill climb in Brisbane, CA - just south of San Francisco. The climb starts with a 7-8 percent grade up Guadalupe Canyon Road and a turn into San Bruno Park, and up Radio Road with narrow switchbacks and grades up to 10%.

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Screen shot from my Garmin

There were 228 participants: 194 men and 34 women. I raced with the Women’s Cat 4 (W4) group which had a field of 20. I knew the W4 competition was formidable because two of the women had stellar performances in the low key hill climb series. I finished tenth with an official time of 24:19 (actual time 23:59). My “goal” was 24 minutes so I was pleased with my performance as a racing newbie. The results are posted at http://www.ncnca.org/road/2008/MtSanBrunoResults.html

So now, the rest of the story . . . .
I had a pre-race dream that I arrived 15 minutes after the race started, so Hermes and I arrived at 8:30 for a 10 AM start time. The parking lot was already full of activity with racers checking in, unloading equipment and setting up trainers. A trainer is a must on a short hill climb. The rule of thumb is: the shorter the race, the longer the warmup. I did a "reconnaissance" ride up Mt. San Bruno a couple weeks ago to check out the terrain, and was hoping for similar dry weather, sunny skies and calm winds. Well, 2 out of 3 aren't bad. The weather was sunny and cool (mid-40’s) but the winds already started to kick up a bit in the parking lot as I was warming up on my trainer.

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Velodiva on the trainer

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Most cyclists have trainers that hold either the front or rear wheel stationary. Above is a “purist” riding rollers without support.

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The more conventional approach. The woman in #250 took first place in the W4 - congrats to her!

The race was well organized and the mass start went out in two waves, three minutes apart. The Women’s Cat 4 were in the back of the second wave in back of the Elite men 5 - few of them wanted to hang back with us – go figure. The road leading up to the top was closed to traffic. This is about as safe as bicycling riding gets.

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This is the Cat 4 women with Velodiva in the middle on the Orbea Orca and green Webcor team kit.

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Here is a Elite Cat 5 cyclist in an interesting skinsuit.

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Here is the starting line. It was all very civilized. Unlike running races, no announcing platforms, cheerleaders, warmup teams, loud music – just pure focus. This group was warmed up and ready to rumble.

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This is a picture of the starting line consisting of the Pro 1/2s.

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This is the first wave up the hill. The peloton is tightly packed.

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Wave 2 - Velodiva is in the green Webcor team kit.

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It took about 20 seconds from the "go" before I could actually start riding. The group quickly spread out going up Guadalupe Canyon. For the most part, I rode by myself keeping an eye on my cadence and HR. The only sweet feeling was passing numerous guys and women along the way.

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The gusting cross and headwinds seemed to hit at the hardest part on the quite rutty and winding Radio Tower Road. Approaching the top, I passed a little 18-year-old. She kept yelling encouragement from behind and was on my tail until the end. We ended up with the same finishing time.

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Velodiva approaching the finish

Happy New Year to all!

Very cool velodiva. Congrats on getting your season off to a successful early start.

Unless I'm reading things incorrectly, the fastest time I see is from a mens cat. 4!

Great Job!! and nice write-up.

Next time you might try and cover up the HR monitor and just try and stick to the fastest wheel in your group. Don't forget that they're hurting just as bad as you are!!

Shayne

Great read. Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the first 08 race report!

Yes the fastest time and 3rd fastest times of the day were turned in by two of my team mates, both cat4 :eek: and Second fastest time and winner of the pro 1,2 was our veryown Pizzaman. :beer: nice job all.

Great pics! Nice ride and report!

Its so nice to read a race report after so many months of drivel.

webcor, represent! I recognize you from either group rides or club meetings... anyway, good work :D

Reading about the race almost makes me wish I woke up that early to go. Anymore pictures??

Great report. Thanks. I suspect PM is pro climbing material!

webcor, represent! I recognize you from either group rides or club meetings... anyway, good work :D

Reading about the race almost makes me wish I woke up that early to go. Anymore pictures??

LOTS of photos from the race available at http://www.ncncaracing.com/reports/2008/sbhc.php

Hi,

Nice report and good result -- especially for so early in the year. :)

I need to head up north to do some road races. Too many crits down here.

Thanks for the report. I did that race last year and loved it. I live in CO now and it's much to snowy to do that here.

i'm waiting for pizza man's input. Did you win?

brianappleby- see post number 6. 2nd overall and 1st in the p12

indeed, I scrolled too fast.

Congrats to your super speedy 4s and PM.